YearToAvoid

2011 MINI Cooper S Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2011 MINI Cooper S has a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 7th worst out of 19 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 31 complaints, 3 recalls, and 5 fires, with the engine and electrical system as the top problem areas.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
67/100
#7 of 19 Cooper S years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
31
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
5
Injuries
2
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28
25 city / 31.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2011 MINI Cooper S problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine18 (58%)
  2. Electrical System16 (52%)
  3. Airbags3 (10%)
  4. Other3 (10%)
  5. Fuel System2 (6%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Engine compartment fires reported both while parked and while driving, sometimes linked to a failed turbo cooling system.
  • Owners describe white smoke and burning odors before flames spread through the engine bay.
  • A thermostat housing design issue lets coolant leak onto electrical sensors, which owners say can raise fire risk.
  • Water pump leaks cause overheating, violent shaking, and warning lights, with failures recurring after repair.
  • Sudden loss of drivetrain power while accelerating or merging, with power cutting in and out for several seconds.
  • High-pressure fuel pump failures trigger limp-home mode, reduced power, and check engine lights.
2011 MINI Cooper S complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2012May 2015Dec 2016Nov 2017Dec 2019Jul 2023Aug 2024Jul 2025
31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2012 to Jul 2025; peak Nov 2017 (2).

2011 MINI Cooper S recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V337000May 11, 2023Electrical System97,933 vehicles

    Electrical system

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.

    Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

  2. NHTSA 18V248000Apr 18, 2018Engine47,806 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

    Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

  3. NHTSA 12V008000Jan 11, 2012Engine90,368 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

    Bmw is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 mini cooper s, 2008-2011 mini cooper s clubman, 2009-2011 mini cooper s convertible, 2009-2011 mini cooper jcw, 2009-2011 mini cooper jcw clubman, 2009-2011 cooper jcw convertible, and 2011 cooper s countryman passenger cars manufactured from november 14, 2006, through january 18, 2011. The electric auxiliary water pump that cools the turbocharger has an electronic circuit board that can malfunction and overheat.

    Risk: The circuit board may smolder which could result in a vehicle fire.

    Remedy: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump free of charge. The safety recall beganduring february 2012. Owners may contact bmw at 1-866-275-6464.

2011 MINI Cooper S fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
31.5 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,850
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Cooper S years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’19’20’21’22’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009Avoid83119327.5
2010Caution7259428
2011Caution6731328
2012Caution5623228
2013Caution6124128

All MINI Cooper S years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 MINI Cooper S reliable?
Compared with other Cooper S model years, 2011 ranks 7th worst out of 19 with a Complaint Index of 67 and a Caution verdict. It has fewer complaints than the 2005-2009 model years but more than most years from 2012 onward.
What problems does the 2011 MINI Cooper S have?
NHTSA complaints center on the engine (58% of complaints) and electrical system (52%), including water pump leaks, overheating, and five reported fires. The median mileage at engine failure was 56,500.
Does the 2011 MINI Cooper S have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this year, covering the electrical system and engine, including a water pump replacement campaign and a sunroof drain/footwell inspection covering multiple MINI models.
How does the 2011 Cooper S compare to other MINI Cooper S years?
It is safer than the 2005-2009 years, which all carry Avoid verdicts with Complaint Indexes from 78 to 100, but riskier than 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019, which earn Good or Best verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 MINI Cooper S?
EPA rates it at 28 mpg combined (25 city / 31.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,850.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.